International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
Anumihe OC, Ogunewe C, Ohale JC, Ekere IC, Opara U, Etoamaihe U and Hussaini SE

abstract
Microbial Diversity of poultry house litters was carried out in this study. Different samples of poultry litters (feather, dust and faeces) were collected from poultry house around Federal Polytechnic Nekede and transported to the laboratory for microbiological analysis. The analysis was carried out using ten-fold serial dilution. After which 0.1ml of the 10^-2 dilution was inoculated onto sterile plates of Nutrient agar, MacConkey agar, Nutrient agar and Saboraud Dextrose agar standard culture media for enumeration of microorganisms. Total Viable Count of the poultry house litters ranged from 2x10³cfu/g to 2.0x10⁵cfu/g. The total fungal load ranged from 1.0x10³cfu/g to 4.0x10³cfu/g. The bacterial isolates obtained were Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus spp. and Salmonella spp. while the possible fungi species obtained were Penicillium spp., Rhizopis spp., Alternaria spp., Sporotrichum spp. The isolation of these microorganisms is of public health significance since they can be transmitted to man directly through contact with poultry litter or indirectly through contaminated poultry products such as eggs or meat. Chicken droppings should be treated before being used as an organic fertilizer to reduce the microbial load and diversity and also prevent disease occurrences in consumers of these agricultural products. People who rear birds are advised to wash their hands thoroughly after contact with the chicken droppings before they touch foods to avoid infection.